eBay Sells Off 65 Per Cent Of Skype For $US1.9 Billion
eBay acquired Skype back in 2005 for over 3 billion buckaroos, but apparently it wasn’t the best investment. It didn’t seem to know what to do with the internet calling company so it did what it knows best and put it up for auction. It is selling 65 per cent of its stake in the company for 1.9 billion dollars to a small group of VC funds. The deal values Skype at $US2.75 billion.
Chances are this acquisition won’t impact the day-to-day Skype experience on your computer or phone or pricing. Though here is hoping that the new guys at the helm will figure out ways to make Skype calling available on, you know, in-flight Wi-Fi, AT&T’s 3G network and Android phones. [Skype]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
I used skype on the last virgin america flight I took and I use it on my iphone 3g all the time (over 3g, not just wifi).
I learned that hacking the phone companies is a good thing from the guys who founded Apple...
EShy
@Weakskills: actually, aristocats was a cartton movie. aristocrats was the dirty joke.
Nick
@georgi55: That is alot of different kinds of cheese you have listed there.
Eulatos
@Nick: I agree and support this comment. The VC have been nothing but a thorn in the side of free peoples for long enough.
Eulatos
@Nick: I was originally going to say "VC stands for Venture Capitalists" but then I thought better. I'm learning!
saycarramrod
@HyMinded: the Aristo-cats? I love that joke.
Weakskills
Headline should read: "Skype is over. Everyone please leave quietly."
XuanDawkins
@OMG! Ponies!: you obviously don't understand the VC and their gorilla warfare.
Nick
Any Canadian with a Canadian Pension Plan now owns part of Skype.
SadafGebroni
@Nick: Welcome to my world. A world where jokes fly clearly over people's heads.
@Nick: Check your facts, buddy. Northern Vietnam has virtually no internet service. As you will recall, Charlie Don't Surf!
@NashAcastus: and let me guess. you just recently got the internets?
Nick
hey joanna, i will give you a dollar for every instance of VC in your article replaced with "Viet Cong" or "Charlie." or two dollars for "men in the funny pajamas." thank you for your consideration.
Nick
@georgi55: I'm sorry, I can't read all that past the garbled static from your broken lul-detector.
Kaiser-Machead
@rock99rock: i think he was mad because i called Skype american. he fails to realize that skype was purchased by ebay -- an american company.
Nick
@georgi55: At least get a sense of humor before you make a dumb comment about a smart one.
rock99rock
@Nick: I see what you did there
saycarramrod
I agree. If you must communicate then send an e-mail message. A much more considerate approach.
toddrick
i believe it is a venture capitalist funds group... not viet cong.. lol
XuanMalinkoo
VC? Charlie? Are you kidding me? VC, I believe is Venture Capitalists, Not Viet Cong, and Skype is just recently American. It was originally Estonian, same guys who made Kazaa.
NashAcastus
Seems to me that this deal values it at $2.92 billion, not 2.75...
puntai
Hahahahahahahaha
SumanolataAquila
@OMG! Ponies!: I loved Pluto, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. Spread the love and the crats.
HyMinded
@Nick: At least look up the info before you make dumb comments. "Skype was written by Estonia-based developers Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu and Jaan Tallinn, who had also originally developed Kazaa.[1] The Skype Group, founded by Swedish-born entrepreneur Niklas Zennström and the Dane Janus Friis, has its headquarters in Luxembourg, with offices in London, Tallinn, Tartu, Stockholm, Prague,[2] and San Jose, California."
[en.wikipedia.org]
georgi55
i am tired of hearing about all these VC buying up all our american crap. we left their country and now charlie needs to leave us the frack alone.
Nick
@OMG! Ponies!: i mean it's not even a planet anymore.
Nick
I agree with OMG! Poniest !
hindlist
"Though here is hoping that the new guys at the helm will figure out ways to make Skype calling available on, you know... AT&T's 3G network"
Jailbreak and use 3G unrestricter!
Chewmieser
"hoping that the new guys at the helm will figure out ways to make Skype calling available on, you know, in-flight Wi-Fi"
This would be a horrible idea.
Hello Mister Walrus
My heart bleeds for all the global corporations that have to sell off assets to other global corporations.
What about the plutocrats? WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE PLUTOCRATS?!
Perhaps their new VCs can invest some cash on figuring out their ongoing problem with spam on their network, especially because it's costing some of their customers real money and not theoretical money.
[share.skype.com]
seidior